Потерянный континент: история Атлантиды

           Thegrassblazedupforasignalalmostbeforehistimorousheelswereclearofit,andthatnightwhenthedarknessgavemecover,Itooktheriskofwhatbeastsmightbeprowling,andwenttotheplaceappointed.Therewasnoropedangling,butpresentlyonecamedownthesmoothclifffacelikesomeslendersnake.Imadealoop,slippeditoveraleg,andpulledhardasasignal.Thoseabovebegantohaul,andsoIwentbacktotheSacredMountainafteranabsenceofsomanytoilsomeandwarringyears.Therewerenonetodisturbtheascent.Phorenice’stroopshadnothoughttoguardthatgaunt,bare,seamlessprecipice.

           Themenwhohauledmeupwereold,andpantedheavilywiththeirtask,and,untilIknewthereason,Iwonderedwhyaknotofyoungerpriestshadnotbeenappointedfortheduty.ButIputnoquestion.WithusofthePriests’ClanontheSacredMountain,itisalwaystakenasgrantedthatwhenanorderisgiven,itisgivenforthebest.Besides,thesepriestsdidnotofferthemselvestoquestion.TheytookmeoffatoncetoZaemon,andthatiswhatIcouldhavewished.

           Theoldmangreetedmewiththeroyalsign.“AllhailtoDeucalion,”hecried,“KingofAtlantis,dulycalledtheretobytheHighCouncilofthepriests.”

           “IsPhorenicedead?”Iasked.

           “Itremainsforyoutoslayher,andtakeyourkingdom,if,indeed,whenallisdone,thereremainsamanoraroodoflandtogovern.